Nagome Hill was located on the farm Loole (31LU) in close proximity to
Loolekop, Nareng Hill and Moloto Hill. This kopje was also known as Ruhís
Hill, a name derived from that of Max Ruh, a German prospector who, at one
time, lived on this hill.

Nagome Hill was one of the important settlements in Phalaborwa and can be
ranked in terms of its status with Sealeng Hill and Kgopolwe Hill. The site
was, however, one of the first to be destroyed by modern mining activities
twenty-five years ago. Before this settlement disappeared, an archaeological
team under the supervision of Nick van der Merwe of the University of Cape
Town conducted rescue excavations at this kopje.

Historical
evidence

Oral tradition refers to the Nagome-Loolekop area as the original domain of
the ancient Basokane who occupied Phalaborwa before they were subjected by a
Bamalatji group. The Basokane were regarded as skilled copper workers. They
were one of several pre-Malatji groups (Seale, Hlame [or Seletmatsela],
Mashale, Malesa and the Mmopa) who established a firm presence in the area
before the Bamalatji arrived.

One description says that the Basokane arrived from the north as they
possessed the phala (impala) as totem. A second version states that
this group were remnants of the Bangona, an ancient Sotho group, also
referred to as the Basokane (or Salane) of Phalaborwa, who arrived in the
Lowveldt before the first Balobedu, Bamalatji or Bavenda arrived in this
region.

Nagome Hill and Serotwe Hill on the western border of Phalaborwa, were the
most important capitals from whence the MasÍkÍ-Malatji expanded their
influence over the southern parts of the

Loole site complex. Nagome Hill served as the badimung (burial place)
for this group and sacrifices were made at this settlement until just before
it disappeared. The earliest progenitors of the MasÍkÍ-Malatji were
Mphalakanya, Phuti, Paane and MasÍkÍ, who were associated with Nagome,
Serotwe, Mabadika, Lihuatjana, Muhululu and Phuti Hills.